Key-controlled locks

ABSTRACT

A key-operated combination lock having a locking latch operated by a pivotable handle. Movably secured to the handle is a slidable bolt control element which constitutes the main closing element. The bolt control element is locked by the penetration of a number of bolt pins through the bolt control element and into perforations which house drive pins of varied sizes in a fixed base. The bolt control element may only be moved after the insertion of a key having a plurality of grooves which coincide with the drive pins into the keyway between the clasp and the fixed frame.

o H il'mte States Patent [151 3,640,107

Litvin 51 Feb. 8, 1972 [54] KEY-CONTROLLED LOCKS 1,758,620 5/1930Rebori... 2,505,494 4/1950 He er [721 Agemma 3,111,020 11/1963 Gazcia..70/409 x [73] Assignee: Abraham Isaac Scherz, a part interest PrimaryExaminerAlbert G. Cra1g, Jr. [22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1969 Attarney-Molinare,Allegretti, Newitt& Witcoff [21] Appl. No 886,211

[57] ABSTRACT Foreign Application Priority Data A keyoperatedcombination lock having a locking latch operated by a pivotable handle.Movably secured to the han- Sept. 24, 1969 Argentma ..224,306 dle is aSlidable bolt control element which constitutes he main closing element.The bolt control element is locked by [52] 11.8. C1 ..70/129, 70/352,70/405 the penetrau-on ofa number of bolt pins through the b0 com [51]Int. Cl. ..E05b 63/08, EOSb 19/14 "0] element and into perforationswhich house drive pins of [58] Field of Search ..70/ 129, 145, 150, 350,352, varied Sizes in a fi d b Th b l mm] element may only 70/405, 406.409 be moved after the insertion of a key having a plurality of grooveswhich coincide with the drive pins into the keyway [56] References Citedbetween the clasp and the fixed frame.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Yale ..70/406 X 12 Claims, 6 Drawing FiguresPATENTED FEB 81972 SHEET 2 OF 2 Ii v VIII,

72 66/ l NggNToR ATTORNEY,

KEY-CONTROLLED LOCKS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to a key-operated lock which provides a new locking principleand means for accomplishing this principle. The system offers an idealdevice for locking various types of doors, safes and the like. Thelocking operation of this invention may be classed as impenetrable.

Both key and combination-operated locks presently in use are subject totampering by intruders. The key-operated locks may generally be openedeither by the skillful manipulations of the intruder or by the use of askeleton key which is designed to avoid the obstructions of the lockchamber.

Combination locks with tumblers may likewise be opened by an experiencedsafebreaker who listens to the sound of the tumblers as he rotates thedial of the combination lock. Highly complex combination locks withtumblers may be devised, but these are difficult and expensive toconstruct and remain subject to the limitations which have beendescribed.

Either of these locking systems is adequate for obstruction the entry ofan intruder, but neither system provides a foolproof locking device.Consequently, it is desirable to provide a new and improved lockingsystem of economical construction which is foolproof from intruders to amathematical degree of certainty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a principle aspect, the present inventionrelates to a new and improved locking mechanism employing a movable boltcontrol element as the main closing element secured in a channel definedin a lock housing. When the bolt control element is unlocked, the latchmay be opened by a handle secured thereto. When the bolt control elementis locked, the lock cannot be opened. The bolt control element isprovided with a number of bolt pins which penetrate across the planebetween the bolt control element and the channel and into drive pinchambers, thus preventing movement of the bolt control element. When thekey of this invention is inserted into the keyway of the housing, thegrooves defined in the key fit complementary with corresponding drivepins. These grooves bias the drive pins and associated bolt pins to apoint where the junctures between each drive pin and associated bolt pinare coplanar with the surface between the bolt control element and thechannel so that the bolt control element may be moved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS There is shown in the attacheddrawings a presently preferred embodiment to the present inventionwherein like numerals and letters refer to like elements and wherein:

FIG. I is a side view of the lock showing a cutaway crosssectional viewof the interior of the lock in closed position;

FIG. 2 is the lock of FIG. 1 with the key inserted and with themechanism in open position;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the key of this invention also showinglongitudinal and side cross-sectional views of the key;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the mechanism in closedposition with the key positioned at the keyway entry;

FIG. 5 is the mechanism of FIG. 4 with the key inserted partially intothe keyway; and

FIG. 6 is the mechanism of FIG. 4 with the key inserted fully into thekeyway.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT d includes a handle 14 pivotallysecured at axis 13 to the fixed frame a. The lever (1 also includes alatch arm 15 which is coupled to a control pin 16 secured to the latche. A clasp arm 12, also secured at the axis 13 to the lever d, iscoupled to the clasp b.

Thus, a clockwise rotation of the handle 14 from the position shown inFIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 2 produces a movement of the clasp b to theleft and the withdrawal of the armor latch e from locked position to theunlocked position. This movement also causes the pin 19 to contact thelever arm 20 which in turn withdraws the secondary latch 22 from lockedposition.

From the foregoing, it should be understood that when the lever d ispivoted by pressure on the handle 14, both the latch e and the boltcontrol element b are moved. Thus, movement of the latch e is predicatedupon the ability to move the bolt control element b.

The fixed base or housing a has a keyway 2 defined in it for receivingthe key c. The keyway 2 has a slot entrance 3 for receiving the key 0which may be more clearly seen in FIG. 3. The cross-sectional area ofthe key 0 corresponds exactly with the cross-sectional area of theentrance 3 of the keyway 2 so that an object of different proportionsmay not be received in the keyway 2.

Perpendicular to the keyway 2 may be seen perforations 4 having flangesteps at the base of each perforation. The perforations 4 house driverpins 5 having pointed ends which reach the bottom 2' of the keyway 2.Coinciding with the perforations 4, are a plurality of cells or bores 6defined in the mobile bolt control element b, which house the bolt pins7. The bolt pins 7 are biased by springs 8 which have sufficient tensionto cause the bolt pins to penetrate across the plane 9 and intocorresponding perforations 4 according to the length of the respectivedrive pins.

The drive pins 5 are provided in varied lengths so as to establish anumber of different combinations for opening the lock. Some of thedriver pins 5 maintain a relatively large distance in relation to plane9 (equivalent to the thickness of the keyway 2). Other driver pinsmaintain a middle distance and still others a minimal distance, so thatas shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the driver pins 5 are depressed to varyingdegrees. This allows bolt pins 7 to enter their correspondingperforations 4 thus locking the clasp b. The plurality of rows of pinsprovide a number of retention points (in this case, 9) so that literallymillions of combinations are obtained.

In order to displace the bolt control element b, it is necessary thatall the driver pins 5 be lifted to a point where the juncture betweenthe driver pins 5 and the bolt pins 7 are coplanar with the planarsurface 9. This condition may be achieved only through the insertion ofthe corresponding key c.

As shown in FIG. 3, the key c is a thin plate having a chamfer lldefined on one end for lifting the driver pins 5 as the key 0 isinserted into the keyway 2. The key c also has a plurality of grooves 10forming the frame of the key c and positioned in exact correspondence tothe frame forming the driver pins 5. Each groove 10 has a thicknessequivalent to the distance between the extreme top of the correspondingdriver pin 5 and the planar surface 9. Thus, by introducing the key c asis graphically shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the end of each driver pin 5 andthe corresponding end of each bolt pin 7 are leveled and made coplanarwith planar surface 9.

In this position, the bolt control element b is freed for movement sothat the lever d may be moved by the handle 14. As described previously,movement of lever d causes the armor latch e to move into or out oflocked position. In the same fashion, the key 0 must be placed in thechannel 2 thus leveling the driver pins 5 in order to close the lock.

The key c has a series of abutments 24 which limit the penetration ofthe key c in the channel 2. The abutments 24 are machined on the key 0in order to precisely position it so that each of the grooves 10correspond precisely with its respective driver pin 5. The key 0 shownin FIG. 3 has a double set of grooves 10 which allow it to be reversiblein the keyway 2. Also, an elongated eye 25 is provided in the key c sothat it may easily be kept on a keyring.

The locking mechanism of this invention as has been set forth provides adevice having maximum precision in its locking mechanism. The particularlocking mechanism of this preferred embodiment has nine pins aligned inthree columns which allow a maximum of 1,800,000 different correspondingkey combinations. Thus, the lock of this invention is impenetrable by askeleton key or the like to a mathematically ascertained certainty.

The narrow entrance 3 of the keyway 2 does not admit the introduction ofelements other than one having the same design as the key 0. Greatprecision is obtained by the planar surface 9 on which the bolt controlelement b travels. This feature minimizes the tolerance play in thedevice and avoids unnecessary maneuvers in opening and closing the lock.

it is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention which hasbeen described is merely illustrative of one of the applications of theprinciples of the invention. Numerous modifications may be made to thedisclosed embodiment without departing from the true spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A key controlled lock having a locking bolt to be controlled by a keyhaving a plurality of grooves of varied predetermined depths comprising,in combination,

a fixed base having a channel defined on one side thereof, a

keyway and at least three perforations defined nonlinearly within saidfixed base, said perforations opening into the keyway and the channeldefined in said fixed base,

a bolt control element movable with respect to and operatively connectedto said bolt and movably secured within said channel and having aplurality of bolt pin receiving bores adapted to correspond to saidplurality of perfora tions when said bolt control element is in lockedposition,

a plurality of bolt pins slidably secured within said bores and acorresponding plurality of driver pins having varied predeterminedlengths slidably secured within said perforations such that when saidbolt control element is locked, said bolt pins are depressed from saidbores into said perforations and said driver pins are biased intocontact with the surface of said keyway, such that when said key isinserted in said keyway, said plurality of grooves of variedpredetermined depths in said key correspond with each of said driverpins respectively and counterbias each of said driver pins and said boltpins to cause each juncture between each of said bolt pins and saiddriver pins to be positioned at the interface of said bolt controlelement and said channel for allowing said bolt control element to bemoved in said channel without opposition from said bolt pins or saiddriver pins and without movement of said key.

2. The combination of claim 1 including, means within said bores forbiasing said bolt pins against said driver pins such that when said boltcontrol element is in locked position, said bolt pins forcibly penetrateinto said perforations in said base and bias said driver pins againstthe surface of said keyway to prevent any movement of said bolt controlelement in said channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for biasing comprise acompression spring in each of said bores.

4. The combination lock of claim 1 wherein said key is a planar platehaving chamfered ends and wherein said grooves defined on one surface ofsaid plate cooperate with said driver pins to determine the opposite runof each of said driver pins so that when the key is inserted into thekeyway, the juncture between said driver pins and said bolt pins iscoplanar with the surface between said bolt control element and saidchannel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bolt control element comprisesa bar railed in guides as a runner traversing a run from the lockedposition to the unlocked position. I

The apparatus of claim 1 including a lever having a operating handlepivotally secured to said base, a resistance arm coupled to said boltcontrol element at one end and secured to the pivot end of saidoperating handle at the other end, and an operating arm having a firstend secured to said pivot end and a second end coupled to the bolt, suchthat when said handle is moved, said control element and said bolt arealso moved.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including a secondary bolt foraid lock operatively connected to the bolt of said lock such that whenthe handle is moved and said bolt is operated, said secondary bolt isalso operated.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said keyway has a rectilinearopening for receiving said key.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said key includes atleast one abutment means defined thereon for limiting the penetration ofsaid key in the keyway such that said key may be precisely positionedwithin the keyway.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including at least nine of theperforations aligned in three columns, at least nine of the bolt pinreceiving bores adapted to correspond to said nine perforations when thebolt control element is locked and including at least nine of the boltpins slidably secured within the bores and at least nine of the driverpins having varied predetermined lengths slidably secured within theperforations.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said key includes a firstplurality of grooves on one end of the key and a second plurality ofgrooves on the other end of said key such that said key may bereversibly inserted in the keyway.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bolt controlelement is remote from said bolt.

1. A key controlled lock having a locking bolt to be controlled by a keyhaving a plurality of grooves of varied predetermined depths comprising,in combination, a fixed base having a channel defined on one sidethereof, a keyway and at least three perforations defined nonlinearlywithin said fixed base, said perforations opening into the keyway andthe channel defined in said fixed base, a bolt control element movablewith respect to and operatively connected to said bolt and movablysecured within said channel and having a plurality of bolt pin receivingbores adapted to correspond to said plurality of perforations when saidbolt control element is in locked position, a plurality of bolt pinsslidably secured within said bores and a corresponding plurality ofdriver pins having varied predetermined lengths slidably secured withinsaid perforations such that when said bolt control element is locked,said bolt pins are depressed from said bores into said perforations andsaid driver pins are biased into contact with the surface of saidkeyway, such that when said key is inserted in said keyway, saidplurality of grooves of varied predetermined depths in said keycorrespond with each of said driver pins respectively and counterbiaseach of said driver pins and said bolt pins to cause each juncturebetween each of sAid bolt pins and said driver pins to be positioned atthe interface of said bolt control element and said channel for allowingsaid bolt control element to be moved in said channel without oppositionfrom said bolt pins or said driver pins and without movement of saidkey.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including, means within said boresfor biasing said bolt pins against said driver pins such that when saidbolt control element is in locked position, said bolt pins forciblypenetrate into said perforations in said base and bias said driver pinsagainst the surface of said keyway to prevent any movement of said boltcontrol element in said channel.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 whereinsaid means for biasing comprise a compression spring in each of saidbores.
 4. The combination lock of claim 1 wherein said key is a planarplate having chamfered ends and wherein said grooves defined on onesurface of said plate cooperate with said driver pins to determine theoperative run of each of said driver pins so that when the key isinserted into the keyway, the juncture between said driver pins and saidbolt pins is coplanar with the surface between said bolt control elementand said channel.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bolt controlelement comprises a bar railed in guides as a runner traversing a runfrom the locked position to the unlocked position.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1 including a lever having an operating handle pivotally securedto said base, a resistance arm coupled to said bolt control element atone end and secured to the pivot end of said operating handle at theother end, and an operating arm having a first end secured to said pivotend and a second end coupled to the bolt, such that when said handle ismoved, said control element and said bolt are also moved.
 7. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 6 including a secondary bolt for saidlock operatively connected to the bolt of said lock such that when thehandle is moved and said bolt is operated, said secondary bolt is alsooperated.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said keyway has arectilinear opening for receiving said key.
 9. The apparatus as setforth in claim 1 wherein said key includes at least one abutment meansdefined thereon for limiting the penetration of said key in the keywaysuch that said key may be precisely positioned within the keyway. 10.The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including at least nine of theperforations aligned in three columns, at least nine of the bolt pinreceiving bores adapted to correspond to said nine perforations when thebolt control element is locked and including at least nine of the boltpins slidably secured within the bores and at least nine of the driverpins having varied predetermined lengths slidably secured within theperforations.
 11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said keyincludes a first plurality of grooves on one end of the key and a secondplurality of grooves on the other end of said key such that said key maybe reversibly inserted in the keyway.
 12. The apparatus as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said bolt control element is remote from said bolt.